Honoring and congratulating the After School Activities and Partnerships (ASAP) Chess club for their bringing together over 150 clubs and 2,500 students across the City and being instrumental in Philadelphia being named Chess City of the Year by US Chess.

WHEREAS, ASAP Chess is led by Director of Chess Programs Martin Collette and Chess Coordinator Liz Forest; and

WHEREAS, Founded in 2002, the program encourages critical thinking and problem solving skills, and has a wide variety of mentors and coaches all across Philadelphia to keep the City’s rich scholastic tradition alive amidst the pandemic; and

WHEREAS, ASAP Chess makes a significant effort to close the gender gap in chess by promoting the Philly Girls Play Chess Initiative, hosting all-girl tournaments, and organizing ASAP Girls Summer Chess which is a week-long program with over 40 girls spending time polishing their strategic thinking and mathematical skills; and

WHEREAS, ASAP Chess is driven by keeping youth safe and engaged throughout the after school hours and summer session through partnerships with schools and community-based organizations; and

WHEREAS, The ASAP Chess program organizes resources such as equipment and training to help local libraries, school, and community centers run chess clubs even during the pandemic by providing students with free memberships to Chesskid.com and giving them access to chess puzzles; and

WHEREAS, The program holds weekly club meetings and monthly competitions that help students engage with each other by working towards a learning goal that helps them grow as students and as individuals; and

WHEREAS, Dozens of the students of the ASAP Chess program compete against Pennsylvania’s best chess players at the State Chess Championship; and

WHEREAS, The program has hosted 30 after school and weekend virtual events to sharpen students’ skills and sustain a community feel among chess players; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby congratulate and honor the ASAP Chess program for their impactful work that helps to instill the love of Chess in their students.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy be presented to the After School Activities and Partnerships Chess Club, further evidencing the admiration and respect of this legislative body.

End